Day 2
Day 2
We were out of bed by 5:30 am. It was comfortably warm already. Our plan was to hike to Michael Lake and then on to the end of the trail at Terence Lake. Very few trip reports show up for these two lakes. We hoped to see very few people. We packed up our now much lighter packs and were on our way at 6:52 am. We dropped down the trail to the main Michael Lake Trail. Just off trail right near the junction, we saw a nice meadow of flowers. We saw lots of asters, penstemon, columbine, and lupine. The trail descends and then climbs again to Michael Lake. The way crosses a deep narrow gorge with a tiny creek in it. The trail was good in some places and rocky in others. The flowers continued much of the way though never in great profusion. At the low point we could hear a waterfall. Coming down we went a short way off trail and saw a bit of it. The uphill was not too steep. The trail wound around as It climbed to Michael Lake. We had more small meadows along the side of the trail. We reached Michael Lake at 8:08 am. Nearing the lake we could see the forested ridge across the lake. The trail goes through a saddle there. The ridge climbs and breaks out of thick forest. The end point looked like a good spot to scramble up.
At the lake we saw one open campsite and a spot next to it that went down to the shore. We had a quick food and water break there. It is a good sized lake. We planned to spend some time there on our way back. After the short break we crossed the outlet creek and headed uphill to the saddle. The trail quickly entered forest and was pleasantly cool. It did not take long to get to the top. We expected to find a boot path on the right leading up the ridge to the open end but found nothing. The forest was easy enough to push through though there were several ups and downs we could not see form below. The route began to get much steeper as we came out of the forest. We did not see this either from below. We scrambled up it. The going now was much better. The grade was gentle as we walked up a meadowed ridge top. We had views to our morning hiking route. We could also now see Peaks 6158 and 6102. Cathedral Rock came into view. Soon we had views to the west. Most of the peaks we saw the night before were in sight. We could see Hibox, Three Queens, Four Brothers, Chikamin, Lemah, Chimney Rock, and Overcoat Peak. One short steep step remained. I scrambled the eight foot step but the views were not much better. I did see Mt. Daniel through some trees. I dropped right back down.
There was a good flower garden on the ridge top. There was a lot of lousewort along with the flowers we had seen so much of on this trip. The cliff penstemon and stonecrop were especially colorful. We retraced our steps back down the ridge to the saddle. The first rock step was bypassed on an easier route. We were back at the pass at 9:49 am. Our detour added about .70 miles with 300' of gain. We left the saddle and headed up the ridge to our left. The map says it was only 1.3 miles to Lake Terence. It was a long 1.3 miles. The trail climbed to the ridge top went along the east side, went over to the west side and continued climbing. In a few spots we had some great views out to the Cascade Crest peaks. Bears Breast and the Chiefs were especially good. The trail crossed into a big meadow where it completely disappeared. To our right was a small dry creek bed. Gary headed to that. While I was looking all around, he crossed the creek bed and started climbing in the grassy meadow. A minute later he found the trail. That was easier than I thought it would be. Then it was straight up. We crossed over a ridge just .30 miles from the lake. The views were terrific.
The descent was really steep. We did have some great patches of yellow arnica and then a very unexpected big patch of scarlet gilia. After that it was straight down the fall line, Right by the lake the trail split. Right went over to the outlet and a campsite. Left a short way took us to the lake shore. It was hot enough I dove for some shade. Terence is a big lake. Fish were jumping. Considering all the bugs they should be well fed. This was the third lake we had seen and we still had not seen anyone since the first mile of our trip. The grassy slope above the lake was full of wildflowers. We arrived at 10:30 am and stayed until 11:47 am. The bugs and lack of shade convinced me it was time to go. It was more work but much better footing going up the straight up loose rocky trail. We stopped for views and some water back at the ridge top. Now it was mostly downhill back to Lake Michael. There was one snow patch over the trail. That was the only place we saw snow on the trail. I was running low on water when we reached Lake Michael. It was time to pump more.
We went over to the spot on the shore we had visited in the morning. It was in the shade and had a little breeze. There was nowhere else I would have rather been. We arrived at 1:09 pm. It was too early to head back to camp so we just enjoyed our spot at the lake. After 48 minutes, Gary decided he wanted to follow the trail to check out another camp marked on the map. Off we went. It was now very warm in the sunshine. Wildflowers were seen along the trail but were really good near the end of the trail. My photos included lots of columbine, asters, and valerian. A moss lined small creek looked like the perfect place to see monkey flowers. We stopped and looked closely and there is was. On the way back we found several bigger bushes of monkey flower. The campsite was not in use and we found another spot on the shore. It was then time to head back to our earlier spot. We spent less than 10 minutes and decided to head back to camp. We hiked for maybe 10 minutes when we met the first people since early the previous morning. Two guys were heading into Lake Michael to camp.
The drop to the low spot went pretty well but the climb back up to our camp was much harder as the temperature kept rising. We were both glad to see our tents again. We reached camp at 4:25 pm. We walked around the lake a bit before and after dinner and headed to bed just after 9:00 pm. Day 2 took us to two lakes on more trails that neither of us had hiked. We had another scramble summit on the ridge above Lake Michael. The mountain views were much clearer than the late afternoon views from Peak 6158 the day before. Just sitting around mile high mountain lakes was enjoyable and relaxing. For the day we hiked about 9.8 miles with 2700' of gain.
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We were out of bed by 5:30 am. It was comfortably warm already. Our plan was to hike to Michael Lake and then on to the end of the trail at Terence Lake. Very few trip reports show up for these two lakes. We hoped to see very few people. We packed up our now much lighter packs and were on our way at 6:52 am. We dropped down the trail to the main Michael Lake Trail. Just off trail right near the junction, we saw a nice meadow of flowers. We saw lots of asters, penstemon, columbine, and lupine. The trail descends and then climbs again to Michael Lake. The way crosses a deep narrow gorge with a tiny creek in it. The trail was good in some places and rocky in others. The flowers continued much of the way though never in great profusion. At the low point we could hear a waterfall. Coming down we went a short way off trail and saw a bit of it. The uphill was not too steep. The trail wound around as It climbed to Michael Lake. We had more small meadows along the side of the trail. We reached Michael Lake at 8:08 am. Nearing the lake we could see the forested ridge across the lake. The trail goes through a saddle there. The ridge climbs and breaks out of thick forest. The end point looked like a good spot to scramble up.
At the lake we saw one open campsite and a spot next to it that went down to the shore. We had a quick food and water break there. It is a good sized lake. We planned to spend some time there on our way back. After the short break we crossed the outlet creek and headed uphill to the saddle. The trail quickly entered forest and was pleasantly cool. It did not take long to get to the top. We expected to find a boot path on the right leading up the ridge to the open end but found nothing. The forest was easy enough to push through though there were several ups and downs we could not see form below. The route began to get much steeper as we came out of the forest. We did not see this either from below. We scrambled up it. The going now was much better. The grade was gentle as we walked up a meadowed ridge top. We had views to our morning hiking route. We could also now see Peaks 6158 and 6102. Cathedral Rock came into view. Soon we had views to the west. Most of the peaks we saw the night before were in sight. We could see Hibox, Three Queens, Four Brothers, Chikamin, Lemah, Chimney Rock, and Overcoat Peak. One short steep step remained. I scrambled the eight foot step but the views were not much better. I did see Mt. Daniel through some trees. I dropped right back down.
There was a good flower garden on the ridge top. There was a lot of lousewort along with the flowers we had seen so much of on this trip. The cliff penstemon and stonecrop were especially colorful. We retraced our steps back down the ridge to the saddle. The first rock step was bypassed on an easier route. We were back at the pass at 9:49 am. Our detour added about .70 miles with 300' of gain. We left the saddle and headed up the ridge to our left. The map says it was only 1.3 miles to Lake Terence. It was a long 1.3 miles. The trail climbed to the ridge top went along the east side, went over to the west side and continued climbing. In a few spots we had some great views out to the Cascade Crest peaks. Bears Breast and the Chiefs were especially good. The trail crossed into a big meadow where it completely disappeared. To our right was a small dry creek bed. Gary headed to that. While I was looking all around, he crossed the creek bed and started climbing in the grassy meadow. A minute later he found the trail. That was easier than I thought it would be. Then it was straight up. We crossed over a ridge just .30 miles from the lake. The views were terrific.
The descent was really steep. We did have some great patches of yellow arnica and then a very unexpected big patch of scarlet gilia. After that it was straight down the fall line, Right by the lake the trail split. Right went over to the outlet and a campsite. Left a short way took us to the lake shore. It was hot enough I dove for some shade. Terence is a big lake. Fish were jumping. Considering all the bugs they should be well fed. This was the third lake we had seen and we still had not seen anyone since the first mile of our trip. The grassy slope above the lake was full of wildflowers. We arrived at 10:30 am and stayed until 11:47 am. The bugs and lack of shade convinced me it was time to go. It was more work but much better footing going up the straight up loose rocky trail. We stopped for views and some water back at the ridge top. Now it was mostly downhill back to Lake Michael. There was one snow patch over the trail. That was the only place we saw snow on the trail. I was running low on water when we reached Lake Michael. It was time to pump more.
We went over to the spot on the shore we had visited in the morning. It was in the shade and had a little breeze. There was nowhere else I would have rather been. We arrived at 1:09 pm. It was too early to head back to camp so we just enjoyed our spot at the lake. After 48 minutes, Gary decided he wanted to follow the trail to check out another camp marked on the map. Off we went. It was now very warm in the sunshine. Wildflowers were seen along the trail but were really good near the end of the trail. My photos included lots of columbine, asters, and valerian. A moss lined small creek looked like the perfect place to see monkey flowers. We stopped and looked closely and there is was. On the way back we found several bigger bushes of monkey flower. The campsite was not in use and we found another spot on the shore. It was then time to head back to our earlier spot. We spent less than 10 minutes and decided to head back to camp. We hiked for maybe 10 minutes when we met the first people since early the previous morning. Two guys were heading into Lake Michael to camp.
The drop to the low spot went pretty well but the climb back up to our camp was much harder as the temperature kept rising. We were both glad to see our tents again. We reached camp at 4:25 pm. We walked around the lake a bit before and after dinner and headed to bed just after 9:00 pm. Day 2 took us to two lakes on more trails that neither of us had hiked. We had another scramble summit on the ridge above Lake Michael. The mountain views were much clearer than the late afternoon views from Peak 6158 the day before. Just sitting around mile high mountain lakes was enjoyable and relaxing. For the day we hiked about 9.8 miles with 2700' of gain.
 Morning At Moonshine |
 Meadow At Junction |
 Mt. Rainier Again |
 Rock Hopping Creek |
 Lake Michael |
 Cathedral Rock II |
 Peaks 6102 & 6158 |
 Framed Mt. Daniel |
 Cascade Peaks From Ridge |
 Lemah Mountain |
 Chimney Rock, Overcoat |
 Hibox & Three Queens |
 Last Scramble |
 Stonecrop |
 Cliff Penstemon |
 Lousewort |
 Michael From Ridge |
 Steep Descent |
 Lone Paintbrush |
 Bears Breast Mountain |
 Trail Near Big Meadow |
 The Big Meadow |
 Steep Ascent |
 More Mt. Daniel |
 Scarlet Gilia |
 Flowers On Slope |
 Lots Of Arnica |
 Gary At Terence Lake |
 Terence Lake Panorama |
 Leaving Lake Terence |
 More Peaks Views |
 Narrow Trail |
 Back At Big Meadow |
 Cinquefoil |
 Jacob's Ladder |
 Dutch Miller Gap |
 Thistle |
 Back At Michael Lake |
 Back Of Lake |
 Lewis Monkey Flower |
 Heading For Moonshine |
 Bog Orchid |
 Burned Forest |
 Deep Ravine |
 Camp At Moonshine |
 Last Evening At Lake |
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